Tag: christmas

Sometimes when I listen to the Christmas song, ‘Breath of Heaven’ (music video in the first comment below) I start to cry. I think it’s because of the simplicity of it and the way that Mary addresses God, “Breath of Heaven”. She was just a young girl when an unexpected visitor showed up and shared a message with her that essentially changed the entire course of her life. She was engaged to be married to a simple carpenter, and she herself, was just a simple girl – that loved God.

As she silently prays to her maker, she’s extremely vulnerable and expresses to Him just how scared she is. She knows that the world is a cold place and she is feeling all alone. And rightly so. Imagine being in her place. A virgin, engaged to be married, in a society where it is absolutely unacceptable and punishable to have had sexual relations before marriage. And now she is carrying the son of God.

She pours her soul out to the only one that could possibly understand what she is going through. God, hold me together (I’m losing it). God, be forever near me (I feel so lost). God, lighten my darkness (the stone cold reality of this world is blinding me and I can’t see you). God, pour over me your holiness (for you are the only one that can ease my anguished heart).

I think it’s amazing how she addresses God as, “Breath of Heaven”. The word breath signifies life. Every bodily function depends on breathing as breathing is the most fundamental of all the body’s systems. It’s at the very core of life. When one stops breathing, one dies.

She also recognizes that she’s weak. She doesn’t see herself as one that is wise enough to be carrying such a serious responsibility. But the beautiful thing is that, even though she’s full of doubts and considers herself as unwise, it didn’t matter to God. What mattered was that she was willing to offer all that she is. What mattered was that she had a heart of humility and recognized she needed His strength, and not her own.

*Note on the art piece: Baby’s breath is considered symbolic of everlasting life and purity. I thought it apropos to include it in the star and around the border in response to the song and reflection.

I’m so sorry I’ve been absent. I was away for almost a week and had very little internet access. Plus, it’s summer here in Brazil and the kids are out of school and we will be traveling from the the 26th to January 10th. Once again I will have very little internet access. During this time I won’t be posting, but I will try and visit your blogs when I can get access to the internet and the time to do so.

I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy new year celebration.

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Are you an expert in anything? In art? In poetry? In photography? In parenting? In life? In anything at all?

The little drummer boy wasn’t, and he knew it. Heck, he was just a kid. An insignificant little boy. He probably came from a humble background. Maybe his father was a shepherd, which wasn’t considered a first class profession.

One thing he did possess though was curiosity and wonder. Like any little child, he wanted to know what all the excitement was about. “Come!” they told him. “A king has been born and we are taking our finest gifts to honor him.”

That little boy didn’t care if he was amongst the elite. Those that had fine gold and perfume. Those that possessed wealth and wisdom.

When they arrived at the humble stable, the little boy noticed that Jesus was just a poor boy, like him. He had to be, because the rich don’t have babies in stables. He knew, though, that Jesus was special. He was a king. The little boy didn’t feel like he had anything to offer him that would be worthy of honor. Nothing that would be fit for a king. He so badly wanted to give Jesus something, so he offered to play his drum for him. That’s all he had. Nothing material. Nothing with a price tag. Just his little drum that he carried around his neck.

So he played his drum for Jesus. Even the animals swayed with the tune. He played his very best for him, which was probably not perfect, being that he was just a young boy. He played with passion, and gave it his all. He knew he was doing it for a king.

Then Jesus smiled at him. W O W! The story doesn’t mention him smiling at the frankincense. It doesn’t mention him smiling at the myrrh. It doesn’t even mention him smiling at the gold. No. He smiled at the humble performance given with passion. He smiled at the gift given out of humility. The gift given from the heart.

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The Little Drummer Boy is my favourite Christmas carol. I love the simplicity and sweetness of it. What is your favourite Christmas carol and why?

The above article was written for the faith arts community, His Kingdom Come, where devotional articles are being published daily for the advent season.

The Little Drummer Boy did too. He stood before a little baby, who was also a king. He wondered at the peaceful, innocent, simple scene. So touched he was that he wanted to give him something special. Something given in love and honor. He wasn’t the greatest drummer. Heck, he was only a young boy. He didn’t have material wealth, nor a fine gift to offer him, so he played. He played with passion, with heart – he gave it his all. Then the baby smiled at him. That’s what I want. I want to see him smile at me. That’s my greatest treasure. That’s my greatest reward.

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Well, my Christmas is not going to be a white one – that’s for sure. In Brazil it is the beginning of summer, with torrential rains and hot sunny days. It’s great when it’s not Christmas, but I was born and raised in Canada, which means winter, snow, coziness and comfort. I’m trying to find ways that I can build fun Christmas traditions with my kids in a hot climate.

Today’s post is just more of a personal one. Sharing a little bit of one of my greatest presents with you – my family.

I just got back home after traveling to our agency’s national assembly for 2013. We had a really great time as a family and were able to do a lot of networking concerning our most recent film, “Internal Mazes” (you can watch the official teaser to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RdfsWQ-AEA). It was hot and sunny everyday and the kids absolutely loved the pools of Caldas Novas (the city we were in). And the hotel we were in actually had organic lettuce (I couldn’t believe it).

Check out some of the season’s photos.

Hannah and Caue in front of our Christmas tree

Me and the kids at the hotel

Caue and Hannah in front of the Christmas tree at the shopping mall

Hannah outside of our conference hall while in Caldas Novas

Well, I’m sure you’re all very busy today. I know I am feeling a little overwhelmed with so much that needs to be done. Let me just sign off with this really cool quote I received in my inbox today. From my family to yours, God bless you all and have an amazing Christmas.

“If our greatest need had been information,

God would have sent us an educator.

If our greatest need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist.

If our greatest need had been money,
God would have sent us an economist.

If our greatest need had been pleasure,
God would have sent us an entertainer.

But our greatest need was forgiveness,
so God sent us a Saviour.”
-Roy Lessin

Ok, it’s another FFTF (Food for Thought Friday) – Food for the body and the spirit. I loooooovvve the Christmas season, so this post is very befitting. For the spirit I will be sharing a bit about how the Christmas song, “Breath of Heaven” has impacted me. And for the body, “Healthy Superfood Prestigio (Chocolate Coconut) tarts. Hope you enjoy.

I have traveled many moonless nights
Cold and weary with a babe inside
And I wonder what I’ve done
Holy Father, You have come
And chosen me now to carry Your Son

I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now, be with me now.

Breath of Heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy
Breath of Heaven

Do you wonder as you watch my face
If a wiser one should have had my place?
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of Your plan
Help me be strong, help me be, help me

Sometimes when I listen to this song I start to cry. I think it’s because of the simplicity of it and the way that Mary addresses God, “Breath of Heaven”. She was just a young girl when a unexepected visitor showed up and shared a message with her that essentially changed the entire course of her life. She was engaged to be married to a simple carpenter, and she herself, was just a simple girl – that loved God.

As she silently prays to her maker, she’s extremely vulnerable and expresses to Him just how scared she is. She knows that the world is a cold place and she is feeling all alone. And rightly so. Imagine being in her place. A virgin, engaged to be married, in a society where it is absolutely unacceptable and punishable to have had sexual relations before marriage. And now she is carrying the son of God.

She pours her soul out to the only one that could possibly understand what she is going through. God, hold me together (I’m losing it). God, be forever near me (I feel so lost). God, lighten my darkness (the stone cold reality of this world is blinding me (I can’t see you). God, pour over me your holiness (for you are the only one that can ease my anguished heart and replace the lack of tranquility with overwhelming peace).

I think it’s amazing how she addresses God as, “Breath of Heaven”. The word breath signifies life. Every bodily function depends on breathing as breathing is the most fundamental of all the body’s systems. It’s at the very core of life. When one stops breathing, one dies.

She also recognizes that she’s weak. She doesn’t see herself as one that is wise enough to be carrying such a serious responsibility. But the beautiful thing is that, even though she’s full of doubts and even though she considers herself as unwise, it didn’t matter to God. What mattered was that she was willing to offer all that she is. What mattered was that she had a heart of humility and recognized she needed His strength, and not her own.

What do you think of this song? What are your thoughts concerning it? Leave a comment and let me know.

Ok, who else out there loves a good dessert or tasty little treat, but hates the refined sugar? Being that it’s the Christmas season and all, I thought I’d create this little goody for my kids (ok, for me too, I confess). Try it out and let me know what you think.

Yes, this is my little girl enjoying what’s left over of the filling

Healthy Prestigio (chocolate & coconut) tarts

Crust:

1/2 cup chopped cashews

1/2 cup oats

1/4 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup dates

1 Tbsp melted butter or coconut oil

pinch of salt

Place all ingredients into a food processor or blender and blend until incorporated. Fill mini cupcake tins with paper liners. Press 1 heaping teaspoon of the mixture into each to form a crust.

Filling:

4 small bananas or 2 large

1/2 cup cocoa

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1/4 honey

4 Tbsp coconut milk

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 Tbsp melted butter or coconut oil

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until fully incorporated. Spoon around 2 good teaspoons of the mixture into the cups. You can garnish with some shredded coconut and then place in the freezer until ready to enjoy.

I absolutely love this time of year and the Christmas holiday. I have such good memories growing up, with the house all decorated and all of the pretty lights, time with friends and family, gift giving (and receiving) and, of course, good food. I figure that, since it’s the Christmas season – and I love it so much – I would write a bit about some of my favorite Christmas songs and what they mean to me.

(I had to take this picture because it was my little guy that put the presents in baby Jesus’ arms and I thought it was so cute)

The Little Drummer Boy

Come they told me,
A new born King to see,
Our finest gifts we bring,
To lay before the King,
So to honour Him,
When we come.

Little Baby,
I am a poor boy to,
I have no gift to bring,
That’s fit to give a king,
Shall I play for you,
On my drum?

Mary nodded,
The ox and lamb kept time,
I played my drum for Him,I played my best for Him,

This song, “The Little Drummer Boy” has really spoken deeply to me in the past and I absolutely love its message. I started my missionary career in 2000 and have been all over the world since then. But when I got pregnant with my first son I fell into a bit of a depression, thinking that my life was all over. I couldn’t see how I would be relevant as a missionary anymore. I would say to God, “So what then God? Am I just going to be a mother and wife? Is that all you have for me now?” (as if that wasn’t important and relevant enough already).

Soon after having Caue (that’s my son’s name), we left Brazil for a time of training and investing in our areas of work. It was during that time that God really spoke into my life, using this song. I was doing a music for missions school and was really seeking God about how I could really be relevant. Finally, after a few weeks of praying and pleading for an answer God brought the remembrance of this song to mind.

The first verse speaks of a king being born. Now, being a king was a big thing. He was the one who created all the laws, led the justice systems and overseed his kingdom as he saw fit (http://www.ehow.com/info_8392008_duties-kings.html). Three wise men came to see this new king and bring him gifts in order to show their respect and reverence. In order to honour him.

The second verse speaks of a poor little boy. He wasn’t of any importance. No one knew who he was. No one traveled half way across the world to visit him. He was just a humble little guy. He didn’t even have enough money to bring the king a gift. He thought he didn’t have anything of worth. So he offered to play his little drum for him.

Now the third verse is the one I love the most. It speaks of how this little guy didn’t let social differences stand in the way of him giving his all for the king. He played his drum for him. He played his best for him. With the little he had. I’m sure he wasn’t the best drummer in the world. He just gave it his all, no matter what. And then it came… the king… the son of God… the ruler of all… SMILED AT HIM. How precious is that. He didn’t smile at him because he had kept good rythm. He didn’t smile at him because he was perfect. He didn’t smile at him because he was refined and well-trained. NO! He smiled at him because of his humble heart. Because in his humility he offered his best.

Do you think you have to be perfect to be relevant? Do you think you have be well educated and trained to make a difference in this world. I couldn’t see how I could be relevant after having children. Now I know that – in what ever I do – if I do my best out of humility of heart – that is a powerful tool in the hands of an almighty God. And the king will smile on me.

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Ok, now for the food part. I know that it is winter time for most that are reading this and soups, stews and other hot dishes are what’s popular right now. However, in Brazil we celebrate Christmas in the summer and it is blazing hot. My recipe for you today is something that many would probably prefer in the summer, but I really like this salad so am sharing it with you today.

1 1/2 cups kale

1/2 tomato

1/4 red pepper

1/4 cup shredded carrot

1/2 Tommy mango

1/4 cup shredded coconut

your choice of protein

top with cilantro and season as desired.

I used a can of tuna as my protein, but you can use whatever you desire.